Controller-operating mechanism.



PATENTED DEG, 1,907.

C. FLEMING.. CONTROLLER OPERATING: IMIEGHANISMv APPLIGATION FILED JARS 190']- CARL FLEMING, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNO TION OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE BULLOCK v .PORATION OF OHIO.

R 'l O ALLIS-GHALMERS COMPANY, A CORPORA- ELEGTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

CONTROLLER-OPERATING Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed January 81-1907- Borial Ho. 354.962. i

I To all whom it may concern:

. anism, of which Be it known that I, CARL FLEMING, a subject of the King of Sweden, residin at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton an State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controller-Operating Mechthe following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to starting controllers for electric motors, and particularl to devices for rendering such controllers fbolproof.

In operating starting devices for some types 0 motors, especia ly in potential starters for induction motors, it is often undesirable that the controller be moved backward from a running to a starting position. To this end controllers have been designed which move directly from the running to the ofi position without passing through the starting ositions, and in which means are provided or preventin the controller from being moved backward om a running to a starting position, or from an off position directly to a running .position, while allowing a backward movement of the controller from any starting osition. It is possible however for contro lers such as these to be left in a starting? position indefinitely instead of being moved to a running position as soon as the motor has gained sufficient speed. As the various windings which are connected in circuit when the controller is in a starting position may not be proportioned to can current continuously but only for a brie period during starting, the result of leaving the controller indefinitely in a starting position may be to cause such wind-' ings to be burned out.

In the co-pending application of Herbert- W. Cheney, No. 344,685 filed Nov. 23rd, 1906, a device is shown whereby it is made im ossible for an operator to leave the contro ler in a starting position, arrangements being made whereby the controller is automatically moved backward to ofi position if it is released b the operator while it present invention is intended to be an im rovement on the device set forth in application. With my invention it is not necessary in the ordinary operation of the controller for the operator inthe same movement which opalmoved to a ates the controller to put under strain 'a' spring which is itself strong enough to move t e controller; and moreover there 1 s no sudden diminution of the resistance to be over- I come by the operator as the controller is running position, and therefore no tendency to involuntarily overrun such position.

Broadly my bination in a controller of fixed and movable contacts, and a spring arranged who set during an initial operation of the controller and to remain so through subsequent operations of the controller until rendered operative to return the movable contacts to off position.

a controller for electric motors comprising a I rotatable member,

the operating handle is released while the controller is in a predetermined position, and

then tends to move said controller to ofi position, said spring being arranged to be set by the drum-operating handle.

Other features of my invention will appear hereinafter and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a controller equip ed with my invention, some of the parts eing shown in section; Fig. 2- is a plan View of the controller of Fig. 1 w ith the operatingFhandle and controller cover removed; and ig. 3 is a development of the notched ring for preventing backward movement of the controller from certain positions.

The details of the starting controller roper will not be fully described or shown erein because they cut invention and are derstanding thereof; For what does not appear in the following description, reference is -made to the aforesaid co-pending application.

In another aspect my invention consists of forin no part of the pres unnecessary to an un' invention comprises the comventio'n, which is equally and preferably integral therewith is a ring or notches, as 7, 10, 7

any desired construction.

Referring now to the drawings 4 is a controller casing surmounted by a cap-plate. 5.

Within this casing is a controller drum A of The operating mechanism here shown is especially designed for a controller drum having duplicate halves, respectively cooperating with tw sets of diametrically opposite contact fingers during one complete operation of the controller and with the opposite sets during the next complete operation thereof. Such a controller has duplicate off, starting and running positions as indicated in Fig. 2. The controller here shown passes through 1 two starting positions between the oil and the running positions, though any desired number of starting positions may be used. In the arrangement shown analogous positions are 180 apart. The particular construction and arrangement of the controller drum form no part of my present inapplicable to controllers having but one off and one running position with any desired number of starting positions between them.

Extending upwardly from the cap-plate 5 plate 6 having pairs of notches 7 and 7 8 and 8, 9 and 9 10 and 10, which corre spond respectively to the off first starting, second starting, and running po- ,Fig. 2, it is released from sitions of the controller. The drum A is mounted on a shaft 11 on the upper end of which fits the operating handle 12 movable by a knob 13 at its outer end.

Mounted in an extension 12 from the handie 12 is a plunger 14 which is normally spring-pressed downward into engagement with the upper surface of the ring 6. The ring 6 'is constructed so that certain of the and 10 form ratchet teeth'to prevent backward movement of the controller, while the remaining notches are so 1 shaped as toallow such backward movement. All of the notches allow forward movement of the controller. Thus the ring 6 coiiperating with the plunger 14 serves in the manner j of the ordinary controller notch-plate to position the controller so that the operator may j feel when he has reached the operative con- 5 l l i l l troller positions, and moreover serves to prevent backward movement of the controller from the off and the running positions. 1 ixed to the shaft 11 within the'eontroller l casing 4 is a cross arm 15 in each end of l which :is mounted a plunger 16, sprii'igpressed outwardly. The movement of these ungers 16 is limited by pin and slot connec-, tions with the cross arm. In the path through which the plungers 16 travel in the movement of the controller, is an upward extension 18 forming an arm 19 mounted free l to turn on the shaft 11. This arm 19 is direction as-by I 20, its movement in biased in a couliter-clockwise means of a coil spring as shown in l ig. 2.

against the action of the spring this direction being limited by a stop 21. As the arm 15 is moved by the rotation of the controller in a clockwise direction, it carries the arm 19 with it as long as the parts .16 and 18 are in engagement. When the part 18 reaches the position shown in dotted lines in the plunger 16 by means'to be described, and is engaged. and held against counter-clockwisemovement by a spring-pressed latch 22.

Integral with the latch 22 cross arm 15 or otherwise fixed to the shaft 11. The periphery of the disk 24 is notched as shown in Fig. 2. When the notched parts of the disk are adjacent to the arm 23 the latch 22 is in its inner position with the stops 22f and 22 in engagement as shown, but when the unnotched parts of said disk en gage with said arm 23, said. arm and the latch 22 are moved outwardly against the action of the spring. This movement isv sullicient to separate the parts 18 and 22 if they are in engagement.

Surrounding the shaft 11 is a collar 25. This collar is movable longitudinally of the shaft 1.1 'and is spring-pressed upwardly by a spring 26. It is held from rotation however'as by means of pins 27 extending from the cap-plate 5 into holes in extensions 28 and 29 from said collar. The extension 28 is larger than the extension 29 and is turned downward beyond the periphery of the disk 24. In the lower end of the extension 28 is mounted a springpressed plunger 30, the movement of which is limited by a pin and slot connection with said extension. .The part of the plunger which fits in the end of the extension 28 ma be of any desired shape and is here shown round. But the part which normally extends out from the extension 28 has at least two flat sides 31 and 32, The collar 25 with its attached parts-may be moved downwardly 26 by pressmg a grip lever 33 adjacent to the knob 13. This grip lever 33 is connected through a link 34 and bell-crank lever 35 to a rod 36, in the end of which is a roller 37 which travels on the upper surface of the collar 25. When the collar 25 is in its upper position, as shown in Fig. 1, the projection 18 will pass under I is an arm 23 a which extends inwardly into the path traveled by the rim of a disk 24 integral with the the lower end of the plunger 30 without When the collar 25 is deplunger 30 is in the path of the the movement of the arm 19 in I 1e cnt-away part of the disk rend adjacent to the arm 23, said arm and the latch 22 to normal or inner positions so engages the projection 18 to on the plum V I 32 on t e plunger 30,

' o prevent ha rnoven rdl and lllSeD. the l invard movement of the arm projection lllnis in running position, the conof the The open ticn oi the dev' drum is f ee from any influence controller 18 m oil When tl pcsiticn with v and the knob 13 may be released the plunger 1 in engagement with the notch op -1 Without any danger of the l 1 ore the arm has he t in l controller bom moved backward. .Indeed,

n own by ed lines in l 2, backward movement; from this running position is i np'ossible because of the ratchet l teeth lo "188. by the notches and 10*. As mob released by the operator the lc'vcr ilg moves outward and the collar ipward on er the influence of the spring s sengaplng the plunger 30 from the However, with the controller '1 the latch 22 holds the arm "om unter-cloclnvise movement under sp 'ng 20. The controller running position it can be safa i leely to the off position, p0 7 tion being diametrically oppooil position from which the movee described, started. When -it is zovc the controller againvfrorn the Knob 13 is gras ed and "er 33 pressed to depress t e collar attached parts. Thus the plunger m moved downward so that its surengages with the side of the projec J 18 to prevent the backward movement i the arm 1%. As the'controller is moved ward to re first starting position the out of engagection 1S isin encageinent with w rs 36. Back ward in over tion pre notch 7 or hirwar l 1. anti renxcnt or the "liar and the Ir ns n A 1'4- moves the latch '22 n the projection 18 on the arm 19, time said arm would move backit for the engagement between it) and 30. In either the first or the second starting position sing of the knob 13 and grip lever operator and the consequent disat W h of the parts 18 and would move arm 19 to swing backward or s it toward and against the A. movement the projection re one of the plungers 1,6 and a controller drum A. back with it to in. N he controller is moved A I so the running? position, the 0pr (town and pres 1 sp f the lever 33 not having movement or the arm l9. 7 s path the controller in either oi )5 i snrrace 39 on pi 1 Hing positions, the surface 39 of the surface 32 on plunger 30 in mm" s E r 16 engages the surface 32 of the former oi said plunge-rs inward and s: 0, and pushcs said plunger 16 init iron; the projection 18. The arm in its allow it to pass by the parts 30 and further movement does not carry the arm '9) ll cutpray part of the disk 24 with it. Although the lorwa-rd nmxeinmzt cl 1 hi *nd adjacent to the arm 33 to althe arm ceases at this tune nl'fl'zXllifVl lw: dip i ilehi22 to again swing inward to enfrom moving backwardbecame ol' the enn5; nepi'o ccrion 18 to prevent backward side oi the pro ect i" t o: the arm 19.

gagement between the '0 surface 3' on 'th e operator, as the disengagement ot' the parts 18 and 30 at this time does not allow the arm 19 to move backward because ol' the engagement between the parts 18 and- 22. From the running position the controller may be moved forward freely to the 'otl'" position, this oil' )osition being diametrically opposite the one it has just le'l't.

The operation above described may be repeated as often as desired, the arm 19 and spring 20 remaining set as long as the knob 13 andgri p lever 32 are properly grasped by the/operator from the time the controller position until it reaches the running position. Should the opera tor release the lever 33 before the controller reaches the running position, the arm 19 will be released and the controller moved. backward to off position. In the nextoperation after the arm 19 has been thus released, the operator must not only move the controller, but must also wind up the spring 20 to set the arm 19. This will efi'ectively serve to prevent the operator from improperlyreleasing his grasp on the knob 13 and the grip lever 32. In the description and claims the operation of the controller in whlch the arm 1'9 is set is referred. to as an initial operation, while the operations with it set are. reterred to as -subsequent operations.

1n constructing a controller in accordance with my invention it is not necessary to adhere. to the precise arrangement here shown and described, but many modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. For instance the notch plate 6 may be mounted to rotate with the shaft while the plunger 14 is stationary. All suchobvious modifications I aim to cover in the following claims.

What I claim as new and by Letters Patent is 1. A controller for electric motors, comprising fixed and which when released tends to move the movable contact to oil position, and two locking devices for said means.

2.A controller for electric motors, comprising fixed and movable contacts, means which when released tends to move the movable contact to oil position, and a plurality of locking devices for said means,

desire to secure .oneof said locking devices being released when the movable cont mined position.

3. A controller for electricnmtors,comprising fixed and movable contacts, an operating handle, means which when released tends to move the movable contact to oil' position, and two locking devices for said means, one of said locking devices being released when the operating handle is released by the operator.

act is in a predetermovable contacts, means.

l l l and a singlehandle for operating therewith,

4. A controller for electric motors, comprising fixed and movable contacts, an operating handle, means which when released tends to move the movable contact to off position, and two locking devices for said means, one of said locking devices being released when the operating handle is released by the operator and the other when the movable contact is in a predetermined position.

5. A controller for electric motors, com prising a rotatable drum, means which when released tends to move said drum to oft position, and a plurality of independent locking devices, all of which must be in unlocked condition sinmltaneously to release said means.

(5. A controller for electric motors, comprising a rotatable drum, means which when released tends to move said drum to off position,'and a plurality of independent looking devices, more than one of which must be in unlocked condition at the same time in order to release said means.

7. A controller for electric motors, comprising a rotatable drum, means ,which when released tends to more saiddrum to off position. and two locks for said means, one of said locks being governed by the position (if the controller and the other by the hand. of the operator.

S. in a controller, contact fingers, a rotatable drum cooperating therewith, a spring which after being set tends to move said drum to oil position only when the latter is released when in predetermined positions, and a single handle for moving the drum and for setting the spring.

9. In a controller, contact fingers, a rota table drum cooperating therewith, said drum having oft, starting and running positions, a spring which'after being set tends to move said drum to oil position only when the latter is released when not in o'll' position or running position,

and setting the spring. v

10. In a controller, a rotatable drum, fixed contacts with which said drum cooperates, meanswhich after being set tends to move said drunrtoward off position when the latter is released in certain operative, positions but exerts no influence on the drum when it is in tions and when not releasedv in the first mentioned positions, and a single. handlefor rotating the drum and for setting said means.

11. A controller for electric motors, coniprising'a rotatableklrum, fixed contacts comeans whereby said drum 1S biased toward off position when releasedin any starting position, but unbiased in running position and also in starting position when not released, and a plurality of looking devices for said means.

operating the drum certain other operative posi- 12. In a controller, contact fingers, a rotadrumto off position only when the latter o is released when in prmletermined positions, a single handle for moving the drum and for setting the spring, and a plurality of locking devices for holding said spring in its set condition.

13. A controller for electric motors, coinprising a rotatable drum, contact lingers cooperating therewith, aspringresscd lever,

- means for locking said lever with the spring under tension when the controller is in a predetermined osition,

locking said ever when the controller handle 'is properly gras ,d by the operator.

14. A control er for electric motors, comprising a'rotatable drum, contact lingers cooperating therewith, means for preventing backward movement of the controller from' certain positions, a spring which tends to move the controller to of! position under certain conditions when said controller is in a position from which it may be moved backward, and a pluralityof devices forlocking said. spring under strain.

15. A controller for electric motors, comprising a rotatable drum, contact fingers'cooperating therewith, means backward movement of the controller from certain positions, a spring which after being set tends tomove the controller to oil position only when the latter is released in a position from which it mav be moved back-:

ward, and a single handle ior moving the controller and for setting the spring.

16. 'A controller for electric motors, cornrising a rotatable drum, an operating 40 liandle therefor, means which when released tends to move said drum to oil osition, and locking devices so arranged tliat said means is released only when the operating and other means .for

for preventing is ili' predetermined and 'to remain'so handle is not properl grasped by the oper ator when the controller ism predetermined positions. I

3 17. in a controller, amovable member, a spring arranged to be put under strain in an initial operation of the controller,'and means for holding said spring under tension in subsequent operations of the controller unless the operator fails to grasp the controller handle properly when the movable member positions, said 'spring when released tending to move the movable member to off position.

18. In a controller, lixed and movable members, and a ring arranged tobeset during an initial orward operation of the controller andtc remainso through subseuent operations'of the controller until renered operative to return the movable incinber to off i" position.

19 In a controller, fixed and-movable members, and a spring arranged to beset during an initial operation of the'controller through subse uent operations of the controller until I'GIN ered operative to return the movable member to off position by releasing the controller handle with tliceontroller in predetermined posi-' tions.

20. In a controller, members, a spring, means for putting said spring under strain in an initial forward operation of the controller, means for normally maintaining said through subsequent operations of the controller, and means for rendering said spring operative under predetermined conditions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. in the presence of two witnesses.

' CARL FLEMING.

fixed, and movable Witnesses:

Geo. B. ScuLaY, Farm J. KINSEY.

spring under strain 

